Difference between revisions of "Affirmative-negative questions"

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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
A common way to form questions in Chinese is to first use a [[verbs|verb]] in the positive, then repeat the same verb in its negative form.  These are called "affirmative-negative questions" or "alternative questions." \r\n== Verb Not Verb ==\r\n=== Structure ===\r\n<div class="jiegou">\r\nVerb + 不 + Verb\r\n</div>\r\n=== Examples ===\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n* 他 很 好,<em>是 不 是</em> ?<span class="trans">He is very good, right?</span>
+
A common way to form questions in Chinese is to first use a [[verbs|verb]] in the positive, then repeat the same verb in its negative form.  These are called "affirmative-negative questions" or "alternative questions."  
 +
 
 +
== Verb Not Verb ==
 +
 
 +
=== Structure ===
 +
 
 +
<div class="jiegou">
 +
 
 +
Verb + 不 + Verb
 +
 
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
=== Examples ===
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
 
 +
* 他 很 好,<em>是 不 是</em> ?<span class="trans">He is very good, right?</span>
 
* 他们 <em>来 不 来</em> ?<span class="trans">Have they arrived yet?</span>
 
* 他们 <em>来 不 来</em> ?<span class="trans">Have they arrived yet?</span>
 
* 老板,十 块 钱 三 个,<em>卖 不 卖</em>?<span class="trans">Boss, 10 kuai for 3, should i sell or not?</span>
 
* 老板,十 块 钱 三 个,<em>卖 不 卖</em>?<span class="trans">Boss, 10 kuai for 3, should i sell or not?</span>
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* 很 晚 了,<em>走 不 走</em>?<span class="trans">It's late, do you want to go or not?</span>
 
* 很 晚 了,<em>走 不 走</em>?<span class="trans">It's late, do you want to go or not?</span>
 
* 她 来 了,你 <em>见 不 见</em>?<span class="trans">She arrived, did you see that?</span>
 
* 她 来 了,你 <em>见 不 见</em>?<span class="trans">She arrived, did you see that?</span>
* 我们 去 打 球,你<em> 打 不 打</em>?<span class="trans">We are going to play ball, do you want to play?</span>\r\n</div>\r\nNote that the question provides the listener with both possible answers: it's either "Verb" or "不 Verb."\r\n== Verb Not Verb with an Object ==\r\n=== Structure ===\r\nIf you want to add an object after the verb, the general sentence structure is:\r\n<div class="jiegou">\r\nSubject + Verb + 不 + Verb + Object\r\n</div>\r\n=== Examples ===\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n* 你 <em>吃 不 吃</em> 饭?<span class="trans">Have you eaten?</span>
+
* 我们 去 打 球,你<em> 打 不 打</em>?<span class="trans">We are going to play ball, do you want to play?</span>
 +
 
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
Note that the question provides the listener with both possible answers: it's either "Verb" or "不 Verb."
 +
 
 +
== Verb Not Verb with an Object ==
 +
 
 +
=== Structure ===
 +
 
 +
If you want to add an object after the verb, the general sentence structure is:
 +
 
 +
<div class="jiegou">
 +
 
 +
Subject + Verb + 不 + Verb + Object
 +
 
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
=== Examples ===
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
 
 +
* 你 <em>吃 不 吃</em> 饭?<span class="trans">Have you eaten?</span>
 
* 你 <em>要 不 要</em> 咖啡?<span class="trans">Do you want coffee?</span>
 
* 你 <em>要 不 要</em> 咖啡?<span class="trans">Do you want coffee?</span>
 
* 你 <em>想 不 想</em> 喝酒?<span class="trans">Do you want to drink alcohol?</span>
 
* 你 <em>想 不 想</em> 喝酒?<span class="trans">Do you want to drink alcohol?</span>
Line 18: Line 56:
 
* <em>买 不 买</em> 衣服?<span class="trans">Do you buy clothes?</span>
 
* <em>买 不 买</em> 衣服?<span class="trans">Do you buy clothes?</span>
 
* 今天 你 <em>做 不 做</em> 晚饭?<span class="trans">Have you cooked dinner today?</span>
 
* 今天 你 <em>做 不 做</em> 晚饭?<span class="trans">Have you cooked dinner today?</span>
*<em> 喝不喝</em> 可乐?<span class="trans">Do you drink Coke?</span>\r\n</div>\r\n== Adjective Not Adjective ==\r\n=== Structure ===\r\nIt can also be done with [[adjectives]] (adjectives often behave like verbs in Chinese):\r\n<div class="jiegou">\r\nAdjective + 不 + Adjective\r\n</div>\r\n=== Examples ===\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n* <em>好 不 好</em>?<span class="trans">Is it good?(or "good or not good?")</span>
+
*<em> 喝不喝</em> 可乐?<span class="trans">Do you drink Coke?</span>
 +
 
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
== Adjective Not Adjective ==
 +
 
 +
=== Structure ===
 +
 
 +
It can also be done with [[adjectives]] (adjectives often behave like verbs in Chinese):
 +
 
 +
<div class="jiegou">
 +
 
 +
Adjective + 不 + Adjective
 +
 
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
=== Examples ===
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
 
 +
* <em>好 不 好</em>?<span class="trans">Is it good?(or "good or not good?")</span>
 
* <em>热 不 热</em>?<span class="trans">Is it warm or not?</span>
 
* <em>热 不 热</em>?<span class="trans">Is it warm or not?</span>
 
* <em>冷 不 冷</em>?<span class="trans">Is it cold or not?</span>
 
* <em>冷 不 冷</em>?<span class="trans">Is it cold or not?</span>
Line 27: Line 85:
 
* 这个女孩儿<em>漂亮不漂亮</em>?<span class="trans">Is that girl beautiful or not?</span>
 
* 这个女孩儿<em>漂亮不漂亮</em>?<span class="trans">Is that girl beautiful or not?</span>
 
* 中国菜<em>好吃不好吃</em>?<span class="trans">Is Chinese food good or not?</span>
 
* 中国菜<em>好吃不好吃</em>?<span class="trans">Is Chinese food good or not?</span>
* 这里的咖啡<em>便宜不便宜</em>?<span class="trans">Is that place's coffee cheap or not? </span>\r\n</div>\r\nAgain, the question provides the listener with both possible answers: it's either "Adjective" or "不 Adjective."\r\nThese are something like adding tag questions in English, in this case "Are you an adult or not?" If you wanted to translate it very literally, it would be, "Are you or are you not an adult?" In any case, the structure is a very common way to ask questions in Chinese.\r\n== Two-character verbs or adjectives in positive-negative questions ==\r\nAll of the verbs used so far have been single-character verbs. Using two-characters verbs in positive-negative questions is slightly trickier. You usually put 不 after the first character, then put the entire verb. For example 喜不喜欢 is the usual question form of 喜欢. You can repeat the whole two-character verb twice, but it's more common (and more elegant) to insert 不 after the first character.  (The same is true of two-character adjectives.)  \r\n=== Structure ===\r\nIt can also be done with [[adjectives]] (adjectives often behave like verbs in Chinese):\r\n<div class="jiegou">\r\nthe first character of Adjective + 不 + Adjective\r\n</div>\r\n=== Examples ===\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n* 喜欢 <em>不</em> 喜欢 <span class="expl"> (the whole word is repeated)</span><span class="trans">Do you like it?</span>
+
* 这里的咖啡<em>便宜不便宜</em>?<span class="trans">Is that place's coffee cheap or not? </span>
* 喜 <em>不</em> 喜欢 <span class="expl"> (only the first character is repeated)</span><span class="trans">Do you like it?</span>\r\n* 高兴 <em>不</em> 高兴 <span class="expl"> (the whole word is repeated)</span><span class="trans">Are you happy?</span>
+
 
* 高 <em>不</em> 高兴 <span class="expl"> (only the first character is repeated)</span><span class="trans">Are you happy?</span>\r\n* 这 个 女孩儿 <em>漂亮 不 漂亮</em>?<span class="expl"> (the whole word is repeated)</span><span class="trans">Is that girl beautiful or not?</span>
+
</div>
* 这 个 女孩儿 <em>漂 不 漂亮</em>?<span class="expl"> (only the first character is repeated)</span><span class="trans">Is that girl beautiful or not?</span>\r\n* 中国 菜 <em>好吃 不 好吃</em>?<span class="expl"> (the whole word is repeated)</span><span class="trans"></span><span class="trans">Is Chinese food good or not?</span>
+
 
* 中国 菜 <em>好 不 好吃</em>?<span class="expl"> (only the first character is repeated)</span><span class="trans">Is Chinese food good or not?</span>\r\n* 这里 的 咖啡 <em>便宜 不 便宜</em>?<span class="expl"> (the whole word is repeated)</span><span class="trans"></span><span class="trans">Is that place's coffee cheap?</span>
+
Again, the question provides the listener with both possible answers: it's either "Adjective" or "不 Adjective."
* 这里 的 咖啡 <em>便 不 便宜</em>?<span class="expl"> (only the first character is repeated)</span><span class="trans">Is that place's coffee cheap?</span>\r\n</div>\r\n== 有 in positive-negative questions ==\r\n=== Structure ===\r\nBecause the verb 有 is negated with 没 and not 不, the structure for positive-negative questions with 有 is:\r\n<div class="jiegou">\r\nSubject + 有没有 + Object\r\n</div>\r\nThe possible answers are: "有" or "没有."  \r\nThe questions could be be asking about current possession ("do you have it or not?"), or to ask about [[Negation of past actions|verbs in the past]] ("did you do it or not?").\r\n=== Examples ===\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n* 你 <em>有 没有</em> 电脑?<span class="trans">Do you have a computer?</span>
+
 
 +
These are something like adding tag questions in English, in this case "Are you an adult or not?" If you wanted to translate it very literally, it would be, "Are you or are you not an adult?" In any case, the structure is a very common way to ask questions in Chinese.
 +
 
 +
== Two-character verbs or adjectives in positive-negative questions ==
 +
 
 +
All of the verbs used so far have been single-character verbs. Using two-characters verbs in positive-negative questions is slightly trickier. You usually put 不 after the first character, then put the entire verb. For example 喜不喜欢 is the usual question form of 喜欢. You can repeat the whole two-character verb twice, but it's more common (and more elegant) to insert 不 after the first character.  (The same is true of two-character adjectives.)   
 +
 
 +
=== Structure ===
 +
 
 +
It can also be done with [[adjectives]] (adjectives often behave like verbs in Chinese):
 +
 
 +
<div class="jiegou">
 +
 
 +
the first character of Adjective + 不 + Adjective
 +
 
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
=== Examples ===
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
 
 +
* 喜欢 <em>不</em> 喜欢 <span class="expl"> (the whole word is repeated)</span><span class="trans">Do you like it?</span>
 +
* 喜 <em>不</em> 喜欢 <span class="expl"> (only the first character is repeated)</span><span class="trans">Do you like it?</span>
 +
 
 +
* 高兴 <em>不</em> 高兴 <span class="expl"> (the whole word is repeated)</span><span class="trans">Are you happy?</span>
 +
* 高 <em>不</em> 高兴 <span class="expl"> (only the first character is repeated)</span><span class="trans">Are you happy?</span>
 +
 
 +
* 这 个 女孩儿 <em>漂亮 不 漂亮</em>?<span class="expl"> (the whole word is repeated)</span><span class="trans">Is that girl beautiful or not?</span>
 +
* 这 个 女孩儿 <em>漂 不 漂亮</em>?<span class="expl"> (only the first character is repeated)</span><span class="trans">Is that girl beautiful or not?</span>
 +
 
 +
* 中国 菜 <em>好吃 不 好吃</em>?<span class="expl"> (the whole word is repeated)</span><span class="trans"></span><span class="trans">Is Chinese food good or not?</span>
 +
* 中国 菜 <em>好 不 好吃</em>?<span class="expl"> (only the first character is repeated)</span><span class="trans">Is Chinese food good or not?</span>
 +
 
 +
* 这里 的 咖啡 <em>便宜 不 便宜</em>?<span class="expl"> (the whole word is repeated)</span><span class="trans"></span><span class="trans">Is that place's coffee cheap?</span>
 +
* 这里 的 咖啡 <em>便 不 便宜</em>?<span class="expl"> (only the first character is repeated)</span><span class="trans">Is that place's coffee cheap?</span>
 +
 
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
== 有 in positive-negative questions ==
 +
 
 +
=== Structure ===
 +
 
 +
Because the verb 有 is negated with 没 and not 不, the structure for positive-negative questions with 有 is:
 +
 
 +
<div class="jiegou">
 +
 
 +
Subject + 有没有 + Object
 +
 
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
The possible answers are: "有" or "没有."   
 +
 
 +
The questions could be be asking about current possession ("do you have it or not?"), or to ask about [[Negation of past actions|verbs in the past]] ("did you do it or not?").
 +
 
 +
=== Examples ===
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
 
 +
* 你 <em>有 没有</em> 电脑?<span class="trans">Do you have a computer?</span>
 
* 你 <em>有 没有</em> 手机?<span class="trans">Do you have a cell phone?</span>
 
* 你 <em>有 没有</em> 手机?<span class="trans">Do you have a cell phone?</span>
 
* 你 <em>有 没有</em> 酒?<span class="trans">Do you have alcohol?</span>
 
* 你 <em>有 没有</em> 酒?<span class="trans">Do you have alcohol?</span>
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* 你 <em>有 没有</em> 吃 过 中国 菜?<span class="trans">Have you eaten Chinese food?</span>
 
* 你 <em>有 没有</em> 吃 过 中国 菜?<span class="trans">Have you eaten Chinese food?</span>
 
* 你 <em>有 没有</em> 借 我 的 钱?<span class="trans">Did you borrow my money?</span>
 
* 你 <em>有 没有</em> 借 我 的 钱?<span class="trans">Did you borrow my money?</span>
* 你 <em>有 没有</em> 看 过 那 部 电影?<span class="trans">Have you seen that movie?</span>\r\n</div>\r\n==See also==
+
* 你 <em>有 没有</em> 看 过 那 部 电影?<span class="trans">Have you seen that movie?</span>
 +
 
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
==See also==
 
*[[Tag questions with bu]]
 
*[[Tag questions with bu]]
 
*[[Yes-no questions with "ma"]]
 
*[[Yes-no questions with "ma"]]
*[[Offering choices with "haishi"]]\r\n== Sources and further reading ==\r\n===Videos===\r\n* Yoyo Chinese: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yu7GPWS2FKE&list=PL94A5E422FB99CDDD Verb-not-verb Questions]\r\n=== Books ===\r\n* [[Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition]] (pp. 141-4) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0415372615 →buy]
+
*[[Offering choices with "haishi"]]
 +
 
 +
== Sources and further reading ==
 +
 
 +
===Videos===
 +
 
 +
* Yoyo Chinese: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yu7GPWS2FKE&list=PL94A5E422FB99CDDD Verb-not-verb Questions]
 +
 
 +
=== Books ===
 +
 
 +
* [[Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition]] (pp. 141-4) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0415372615 →buy]
 
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 86, 102-4) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy]
 
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 86, 102-4) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy]
 
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)]] (pp. 87) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561910401/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561910401 →buy]
 
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)]] (pp. 87) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561910401/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561910401 →buy]
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed)]] (pp. 102, 250-1) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561926235/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=7561926235 →buy]\r\n[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
+
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed)]] (pp. 102, 250-1) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561926235/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=7561926235 →buy]
 +
 
 +
[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
 
{{Used for|Asking questions}}
 
{{Used for|Asking questions}}
 
{{Used for|Giving alternatives}}
 
{{Used for|Giving alternatives}}

Revision as of 09:01, 26 November 2013

A common way to form questions in Chinese is to first use a verb in the positive, then repeat the same verb in its negative form. These are called "affirmative-negative questions" or "alternative questions."

Verb Not Verb

Structure

Verb + 不 + Verb

Examples

  • 他 很 好,是 不 是He is very good, right?
  • 他们 来 不 来Have they arrived yet?
  • 老板,十 块 钱 三 个,卖 不 卖Boss, 10 kuai for 3, should i sell or not?
  • KFC,吃 不 吃KFC, have you eaten there?
  • 咖啡,要 不 要Do you want coffee?
  • 这 件 不 贵,买 不 买That is not expensive, will you but or not?
  • 那里 有 个 公园, 去 不 去There is a park, have you went there?
  • 很 晚 了,走 不 走It's late, do you want to go or not?
  • 她 来 了,你 见 不 见She arrived, did you see that?
  • 我们 去 打 球,你 打 不 打We are going to play ball, do you want to play?

Note that the question provides the listener with both possible answers: it's either "Verb" or "不 Verb."

Verb Not Verb with an Object

Structure

If you want to add an object after the verb, the general sentence structure is:

Subject + Verb + 不 + Verb + Object

Examples

  • 吃 不 吃 饭?Have you eaten?
  • 要 不 要 咖啡?Do you want coffee?
  • 想 不 想 喝酒?Do you want to drink alcohol?
  • 去 不 去 公园?Have you went to the park?
  • 见 不 见 她?Have you seen her?
  • 打 不 打 球?Do you play ball?
  • 吃 不 吃 KFC?Do you eat KFC?
  • 买 不 买 衣服?Do you buy clothes?
  • 今天 你 做 不 做 晚饭?Have you cooked dinner today?
  • 喝不喝 可乐?Do you drink Coke?

Adjective Not Adjective

Structure

It can also be done with adjectives (adjectives often behave like verbs in Chinese):

Adjective + 不 + Adjective

Examples

  • 好 不 好Is it good?(or "good or not good?")
  • 热 不 热Is it warm or not?
  • 冷 不 冷Is it cold or not?
  • 贵 不 贵Is it expensive or not?
  • 高 不 高Tall or not?
  • 甜 不 甜Is it sweet or not?
  • 辣 不 辣Is it spicy or not?
  • 这个女孩儿漂亮不漂亮Is that girl beautiful or not?
  • 中国菜好吃不好吃Is Chinese food good or not?
  • 这里的咖啡便宜不便宜Is that place's coffee cheap or not?

Again, the question provides the listener with both possible answers: it's either "Adjective" or "不 Adjective."

These are something like adding tag questions in English, in this case "Are you an adult or not?" If you wanted to translate it very literally, it would be, "Are you or are you not an adult?" In any case, the structure is a very common way to ask questions in Chinese.

Two-character verbs or adjectives in positive-negative questions

All of the verbs used so far have been single-character verbs. Using two-characters verbs in positive-negative questions is slightly trickier. You usually put 不 after the first character, then put the entire verb. For example 喜不喜欢 is the usual question form of 喜欢. You can repeat the whole two-character verb twice, but it's more common (and more elegant) to insert 不 after the first character. (The same is true of two-character adjectives.)

Structure

It can also be done with adjectives (adjectives often behave like verbs in Chinese):

the first character of Adjective + 不 + Adjective

Examples

  • 喜欢 喜欢 (the whole word is repeated)Do you like it?
  • 喜欢 (only the first character is repeated)Do you like it?
  • 高兴 高兴 (the whole word is repeated)Are you happy?
  • 高兴 (only the first character is repeated)Are you happy?
  • 这 个 女孩儿 漂亮 不 漂亮 (the whole word is repeated)Is that girl beautiful or not?
  • 这 个 女孩儿 漂 不 漂亮 (only the first character is repeated)Is that girl beautiful or not?
  • 中国 菜 好吃 不 好吃 (the whole word is repeated)Is Chinese food good or not?
  • 中国 菜 好 不 好吃 (only the first character is repeated)Is Chinese food good or not?
  • 这里 的 咖啡 便宜 不 便宜 (the whole word is repeated)Is that place's coffee cheap?
  • 这里 的 咖啡 便 不 便宜 (only the first character is repeated)Is that place's coffee cheap?

有 in positive-negative questions

Structure

Because the verb 有 is negated with 没 and not 不, the structure for positive-negative questions with 有 is:

Subject + 有没有 + Object

The possible answers are: "有" or "没有."

The questions could be be asking about current possession ("do you have it or not?"), or to ask about verbs in the past ("did you do it or not?").

Examples

  • 有 没有 电脑?Do you have a computer?
  • 有 没有 手机?Do you have a cell phone?
  • 有 没有 酒?Do you have alcohol?
  • 有 没有 女 朋友?Do you have a girlfriend?
  • 有 没有 孩子?Do you have kids?
  • 有 没有 去 过 上海?Have you been to Shanghai?
  • 有 没有 见 过 他?Have you seen him?
  • 有 没有 学 过 中文?have you studied Chinese?
  • 有 没有 坐 过 飞机?Have you been on a plane?
  • 有 没有 吃 过 中国 菜?Have you eaten Chinese food?
  • 有 没有 借 我 的 钱?Did you borrow my money?
  • 有 没有 看 过 那 部 电影?Have you seen that movie?

See also

Sources and further reading

Videos

Books

HSK2